St. Petersburg, FL -- If you have cable then you know it can be expensive. But experts say there are 5 things you can go to get a better rate and save money.

First, do some research, shop around and play the competition card.

"You want to talk with family and friends, you want to collect advertisements that are currently going on in the mail, make sure you know what services are (being provided) for that price. Set your ducks in a row, do your homework before you call your cable company and that way, you can approach them with the same services and negotiate the proper price," said Bryan Oglesby with the Better Business Bureau of West Florida.

Second, highlight your history with your cable provider. When calling to see if you can get a better deal, point out how long you have been a customer and that you pay your bills on time.

"They don't want to lose you as a customer, so they want to work with you, they want to negotiate with you."

Third, clearly state that cost is an issue.

Fourth, push for the best deal, negotiate with your provider and ask to speak with the Retention Department.

Experts say ultimately if they won't lower your bill, see if they'll add any services at no cost such as premium channels like HBO, Showtime or sports channels like the Big Ten Network.

"You can always look for additional things you're wanting instead of a lower rate and that way you're still getting more bang for your buck with the cable company."

Finally experts say make sure you're polite when calling.

"Understand these people are dealing with these calls all day long, so obviously the more polite you are, the more respectful they'll be of you and they'll put you on to their manager- who will make those decisions."

So what happened when we put these 5 things to the test? Watch the story attached to this page to find out!